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[Rumor] Internal Document Reveals Possible Pre 3 Release Date; HP Readies Websites

By: Jesse Mendoza, 8/10/2011 10:29 pm | 90 comments

A credible source with contacts inside of AT&T’s supply chain in the U.S. has come across an internal document that reveals both the current code name for the Pre 3 and its release date: 9/18/11. The original in-store date was 9/4, but it was moved for unknown reasons. Due to the high sensitivity of the internal document, we are unable to publish it and the code name to protect our source.

It sounds a bit sketchy we know, but we did some digging of our own to confirm some things that the source said and in each and every occasion they proved accurate. We advise you to keep your salt shakers handy, but we get the feeling this guy is legit.

The push back of the release date from 9/4 to 9/18/11 seems to align itself with an email that was recently sent to one of our forum members after he inquired about his pre-ordered U.K. Pre 3:

Dear Dan Kirby,

Thank you for contacting the Palm Store Customer Service. We also thank you for your order with the Palm Euro Store and would like to express our sincere apologies for the delay in dispatching your order to you.

Unfortunately there has been a delay from our supplier for the unit you have purchased. HP / Palm indicated the release of the Pre 3 in mid July. They subsequently communicated a delay in the release date. The delayed release date is Mid August but this is not yet confirmed by HP. We expect to have more information on Friday next week and will let you know as soon as we have it.

We can assure you that your unit will be shipped from the first batch that becomes available from HP.

Kind Regards,
Palm Store Customer Service Representative

Another sleuthing forum member has taken a peek into the source code behind HP’s website and discovered code relating to the Pre 3 that has been commented out in both the U.S. and U.K. versions of the site.

The HTML code on the U.S. site contains code relating to the Pre 3:

The HTML code on the U.K. site is a bit more revealing:

When this code is uncommented it reveals this landing page:

So, our (previously delayed) release date tip corresponds to the delay email sent to our U.K. based forum member. The commented code mentioning the Pre 3 on HP’s website may show HP is getting ready to go live with this puppy. We’re taking all of this with a grain of salt, of course, since HP remains tight lipped about it all.

We can’t wait to get our hands on one, can you?

Thanks for the tip anonymous and Garrett!
May your cereal stay crispy in milk

About Jesse Mendoza

Certified Computer Geek by day, WOR contributor & radio DJ by night. Loves indie music, Toyoto FJ Cruisers, and running marathons. He still owns all of his Palm devices and will probably go to the grave with them. Follow him on Twitter @JesseJstreet

View all posts by Jesse Mendoza →

http://twitter.com/KingNoso11 Oscar Reynoso

September 18? Hmm. Any word on last minute changes to the phone?

http://www.webosroundup.com/ David

No, nothing as far as we know…

http://twitter.com/KingNoso11 Oscar Reynoso

that stinks. I need some VZW news.

http://twitter.com/TeckieGirl S Copeland

probably so…meet or beat it and make it the best it can be.

Anonymous

Do want.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Cooper/1658706712 Dave Cooper

is mid-September still summer?

http://www.mikeavello.com Mike Avello

last I looked it is not…

http://www.facebook.com/sweetgreggo Gregory Gammill

Look again. It is.
http://twitter.com/Blaize19 Janie Friedman

Actually it is. Fall starts in very late September (the 27th-ish, but I can’t remember the exact date).

Malette

Sept. 23rd but still that’s cutting it close but hey at least there is a now closer release date. Only wish I’d hear something about verizon or other carriers.
http://twitter.com/TeckieGirl S Copeland

September 23rd is the first day of fall.

http://www.mikeavello.com Mike Avello

I stand corrected. it looks like the last day may be Sept 22. Cutting it pretty close.

http://twitter.com/TeckieGirl S Copeland

technically yes

http://twitter.com/TheTechChat TheTechChat

So, this is more AT&T-only info. Hmm…

http://www.mikeavello.com Mike Avello

Starting to feel AT&T may be the only carrier that is covering webOS…

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jacob-Pelroy/673263325 Jacob Pelroy

Remember the source works for AT&T, NOT any other carrier. Therefore it is only obvious that he wouldn’t have information about any other carrier.

http://www.mikeavello.com Mike Avello

Good point.
Malette

That is true but I think everyones almost come to the conclusion of no webOS on sprint. Also if it is releasing in september lets remember the earlier article of vzw phones slated for september and further releases that lacked the appearance of the pre3. At this point I’m going to safely assume it will be an at&t exclusive. Since at&t does like to do that. I still think none the less it’s a bad move on HP’s part. I know I won’t be leaving verizon, I love them despite some higher rates and I still get unlimited data and free hotspot.
http://twitter.com/TheTechChat TheTechChat

Yes, but, so far the ONLY significant rumors and leaks have been around release on AT&T. If I’ve missed anything recently hinting at a release on Verizon (that contradicts Verizon’s recently linked roadmap that doesn’t have the Pre 3 anywhere on it), I’d love to see it.

Fred Marcano

I also see “Specs” as a menu item on the top.
Franohern

Summer ends Sept. 20.

Colonel Kernel

This year the fall equinox lands on September 23rd, so the 22nd is the last day of summer.

http://www.FiveSevenEleven.com Tim O’Brien

Looks like I’ll have a birthday Present come Sept 28th!
http://www.facebook.com/sweetgreggo Gregory Gammill

I’m still going to get this phone, but I am starting to get a sinking feeling that this is going to be the last time we see webOS on a phone. HP has made it clear the Pre3 wasn’t a priority and now with Beats going to HTC phones exclusively HP is practically screaming they don’t care to battle in the smartphone industry. I will switch from Sprint to ATT to get my Pre3 and hopefully will get many years out of it.

Anonymous

So HP giving up Beats Audio exclusivity is HP screaming they don’t care about smartphones because…

http://www.facebook.com/sweetgreggo Gregory Gammill

It shows they don’t have enough confidence in their product to include such a high profile feature. If they’re not going to put their best foot forward then why bother?

Anonymous

It’s more branding than anything else, really. Just slap on a good pair of stereo speakers and no one will care what you call them.

Kirk Sutton

I must disagree. Branding is a large part of selling a product. No matter how much I hate that fact it’s true. That is why we have the term iSheep. All I care about (and it seems like all you care about) is the end product. that is the way it should be.
Anonymous

The iDevices are much more than just branding. They are well-designed and easy to use, which is my more non-iSheep are using them.

Beats Audio, on the other hand, is just a red b in a fancy typeface. It’s debatable whether Beats headphones provide better audio quality than similarly priced headphones (and they probably don’t).
http://twitter.com/TheTechChat TheTechChat

Untrue. Beats is actually real technology, such as using specific audio components that provide high levels of clarity, designing system boards to isolate audio components to avoid crosstalk, using higher powered amps, etc. It isn’t just branding and using Beats headphones.

As an aside, I have an HP Envy 14 with Beats Audio, and it provides much, much clearer sound than any other notebook I’ve ever owned. Through headphones, that is (and not Beats headphones, although I’ve tried those as well), although ironically sound out of the external speakers is way too quiet.
Kirk Sutton

Beats Audio is separate from Beats Headphones by Dre. For the record the headphones are just headphones. nothing special and overpriced. I am an audiophile/amateur loudspeaker designer so you can get an idea of my background.
rsanchez1 I agree completely and you actually agree with me. You agree there are iSheep. Yes more people use apple products that isheep but that term was coined because there are those who just follow branding. Instead of isheep i could have gone with the analogous “label whore” when speaking of clothes. Beats audio is not going to be the end all, but it is a branding front to show people that there will be a standard of audio if you buy this. It may not be the best out there, but most consumers don’t want to sift through to find it when they can get something good enough that is easily distinguished by branding.
And that’s the whole business model of Apple. That’s why they don’t have a $500 dollar computer. That computer wouldn’t deliver the experience apple wants you to have. That’s why they only have a few different models and make decision making easier. That’s why they don’t allow much customization to the interface like linux, because then Apple computer A will not give the same user experience as Apple computer B. You said it yourself “They are well designed and easy to use”. That completely goes with what i meant. All PCs are not great; some are great, but you have to sift through to find those.
Whether you know it or not, Beats Audio means something. I have been testing out the speakers. Ive been testing the headphone out with my various headphones and as a line out to some of my speakers. MUCH better than all my other devices. It’s mainly due to the discrete audio components used. There is also some EQ/DSP work done (that can be toggled in the settings). That makes the sound a little fuller. It’s was subtle for most of my equipment and proved most beneficial to sub-100 dollar headphones. People should find this as a nice feature addition to products like this that are mainly used for consumption.
Kirk Sutton

Beats Audio is separate from Beats Headphones by Dre. For the record the headphones are just headphones. nothing special and overpriced. I am an audiophile/amateur loudspeaker designer so you can get an idea of my background.
rsanchez1 I agree completely and you actually agree with me. You agree there are iSheep. Yes more people use apple products that isheep but that term was coined because there are those who just follow branding. Instead of isheep i could have gone with the analogous “label whore” when speaking of clothes. Beats audio is not going to be the end all, but it is a branding front to show people that there will be a standard of audio if you buy this. It may not be the best out there, but most consumers don’t want to sift through to find it when they can get something good enough that is easily distinguished by branding.
And that’s the whole business model of Apple. That’s why they don’t have a $500 dollar computer. That computer wouldn’t deliver the experience apple wants you to have. That’s why they only have a few different models and make decision making easier. That’s why they don’t allow much customization to the interface like linux, because then Apple computer A will not give the same user experience as Apple computer B. You said it yourself “They are well designed and easy to use”. That completely goes with what i meant. All PCs are not great; some are great, but you have to sift through to find those.
Whether you know it or not, Beats Audio means something. I have been testing out the speakers. Ive been testing the headphone out with my various headphones and as a line out to some of my speakers. MUCH better than all my other devices. It’s mainly due to the discrete audio components used. There is also some EQ/DSP work done (that can be toggled in the settings). That makes the sound a little fuller. It’s was subtle for most of my equipment and proved most beneficial to sub-100 dollar headphones. People should find this as a nice feature addition to products like this that are mainly used for consumption.

Randall Wolf

Disagree on this. HP knows they need to get the PRE3 right. They know that Blackberry customers are for the taking at the Enterprise level., That’s why the recent post on encryption matters and that was all about the phone. I’m thinking they found a problem in the early Pre 3′s and made a big change along the way. I hate that it is taking this long, but the Pre 3 still matters. Once my wife and I have one, no matter which network has it I’ll get a TouchPad.

http://twitter.com/Blaize19 Janie Friedman

If it comes on 9/18 it will be exactly two years since I got my Pre Classic. Hopefully there will be an unlocked GSM version so I can just pop my T-Mobile sim in.
Sean

I hope this is true. I have had my Pixi Plus for a year but I want the Pre 3. Unfortuantly I won’t be able to upgrade phones until November but maybe that will let the price drop.
Pvp

yay finally some newz!!

Merzy

I hope there is unlock version. GSM more popular here in Asia
Merzy

I hope there is unlock version. GSM more popular here in Asia

http://twitter.com/iJip JP

damn still over a month away. I think I may get the iphone5 at this rate. Got the TP and pre both day1. But I need to know HP will support us through the end. This is really starting to get ridiculous =
Anonymous

Yep, looks like yet another AT&T exclusive.

Psst, HP, carrier exclusivity with the original Pre and Pixi killed Palm.

GeekChic

Going AT&T only would be stupid. Even some iSheep resisted going there b/c of their crappy network. I am most likely (reluctantly) giving up on the Pre3. I won’t leave VZW for any phone at this point b/c I am a fan of good coverage. If there is an exclusive on AT&T, I am not waiting to upgrade my Pre Plus. Unfortunately, if VZW doesn’t get the Pre3 in Sept, I’m going with the Bionic, although I’m miserable about leaving WebOS behind.
HUGE

wtf are you talking about?
im pretty sure the most webOS users are on Sprint

Anonymous

And I’m pretty sure that Palm is dead, killed by Sprint’s insistence on carrier exclusivity.

Anonymous

Manta Ray! Manta Ray! Manta Ray!

http://AToTheT.org/ Ajay

Oh I was gonna post this! :-) I don’t know how this is a secret tho! Eh…

Jdub94

any idea if VZW is going to have the pre3? I love my palm pre plus, but because of some issues I wasted an early upgrade on an iphone 4. Yes sometimes I do feel like kicking myself on that although now I can say from experience webOS is sooo much better than IOS. I had to buy the HP Touchpad so I could get my webOS fix. But I really want to ditch the Iphone for any phone running webOS. Love me some webOS!!! If any one has heard if VZW is going to have pre 3 I would love to have something to look forward to.
Travis Antonio

If Pre3 does not change will fail because.

http://profiles.google.com/windercomputers Matthew Bradley

What is this, yoda speak?

PalmOn

The only people who are going to buy this phone are the people reading this post.

Greg Mair

Keeping living in that shell.

(there has always been more people who don’t visit forums then do that own webos phones).
StillHereHanginOn

pzzzttt..Slap…damn gnat!
Johnk

Not true palmon. I read all these posts and as a Sprint customer that HAS moved on to android I still keep up on all the HP/webOs news.

Sara

Do you like your droid. I’m with print and love my palm. Don’t want to move to it! *Sigh*

Sara

Sprint. Jeez can’t type!

Anonymous

Also, my wife, one of my friends, and one of my friend’s little sisters all have webOS devices and do not read any webOS news or forums.
Malette

Once again I ask why are you still here? WOR please ban palmon.

Gary

Does anyone know which UK carrier will have the pre3 as O2 are no longer carrying any hp palm devices, as per a phone call to them yesterday.

Anonymous

Orange.

Gary

Thanks
Chirurgie

Is this a prediction, rumour or has some facts to back it? Have it preordered on Play.com but may get it if available as package from Orange instead. My 18m O2 Pre contract just about up soon

http://twitter.com/RobEarls Rob Earls

Orange have the Pre3 user manual in their support website

Gary

Does anyone know which UK carrier will have the pre3 as O2 are no longer carrying any hp palm devices, as per a phone call to them yesterday.
http://twitter.com/confusedgeek Felipe Garcia

a double whammy of opal and pre3 release in Sept for ATT?
MPM

Great Sprint people get fu…. Again!

Greg Mair

Again?. How so?

Clearly you were screwed a long time ago. You can only be screwed by the same news once, not every single time they say they say the words at&t and Pre3. Now if they say Pre4 is going to verizon or something then you can say you got screwed again.
Greg Mair

Again?. How so?

Clearly you were screwed a long time ago. You can only be screwed by the same news once, not every single time they say they say the words at&t and Pre3. Now if they say Pre4 is going to verizon or something then you can say you got screwed again.

MPM

Great Sprint people get fu…. Again!
http://www.facebook.com/EricTrickster Eric C. Tucker

Sadly enough, I don’t even care anymore. The Pre3 was an outstanding device when it was announced…6 months ago. I got tired of waiting with my nearly-dead Pre-, jumped to Verizon and I’m fine with my Pre2 now. I have no desire to get the Pre3, I’d rather wait and see if they come out with something a bit more time-relevant next spring/summer.

You can’t keep missing a product cycle and expect people to get excited over your now-outdated (or at best, middle-of-the-pack) device when you do finally release it.

Raun

Webos fans should get a touchpad and pair it with the best phone they can get, preferably one that support lte.
http://profiles.google.com/windercomputers Matthew Bradley

I agree. The Pre2 has proven to be more than enough phone for me.

GlennBeck

Great, by that time iphone 5 will be out, then the pre3 will look super outdated! Oh yeah, and iphone 5 will be on sprint, even worse.

Not sure that source code means anything, I am guessing that even HP is thinking about actually selling the Pre3 at some point… so they would have an option to buy it ready.
http://twitter.com/TheTechChat TheTechChat

We remain in the same trap as webOS has been in for over two years now: low sales volumes means a minuscule app ecosystem because developers only want to develop for platforms with relevant numbers of users. No smartphone yet equals continued low volume which equals a continued minuscule app ecosystem. And yes, folks, webOS has nothing like the ecosystem you’ll find with Android and iOS (and even WP7). Until you’ve actually enjoyed having access to all of the new apps being developed, you have no idea what’s out there.

Using Android for about eight months now really opened my eyes to how bad the webOS app ecosystem reall is. webOS is great as an OS, but without the apps, it’s just not as productive an environment. And it won’t get the apps until there are devices out there that people want to buy. HP hasn’t done anything so far to change that dynamic.

Cptnjarhead

I feel you , but these are 1st gen webos hardware. Palm is gone an so is the hardware. HP is behind webos 100%
It’s a big market, plenty of fish and the bait is good

Dex4

Are you guys ready for the softest launch ever?
Roy

I just got off the phone with HP, the 800 number on the website, and asked them if they could give me any timline as to when the pre3 was going to be released and on what carrier(s). I was told, after about 4 minutes of waiting for them to research it, that ATT had not signed a contract to carry it yet, but that they already had agreements with Verizon and Sprint !!! They said however, that the release would be 4th quarter. :-(

I can’t vouch for the reps credibility, but they are an authorized representative of HP, and appeared to not just give a canned answer. They appeared to check details to try to provide the answer to my questions.

Take it for what you will, but definitely a surprise answer to me.

StockAnalyst

for full disclosure any drugs used during this call?

Roy

I know, NOT the answer I expected, but I can assure you I was witnessed by several coworkers, who can vouch for my mental state at the time of the call :-)

StockAnalyst

for full disclosure any drugs used during this call?

Roy

I just got off the phone with HP, the 800 number on the website, and asked them if they could give me any timline as to when the pre3 was going to be released and on what carrier(s). I was told, after about 4 minutes of waiting for them to research it, that ATT had not signed a contract to carry it yet, but that they already had agreements with Verizon and Sprint !!! They said however, that the release would be 4th quarter. :-(

I can’t vouch for the reps credibility, but they are an authorized representative of HP, and appeared to not just give a canned answer. They appeared to check details to try to provide the answer to my questions.

Take it for what you will, but definitely a surprise answer to me.
kb7sqi

All I know is, if the Pre3 comes out before the first of the month, I’ll be buying that before I buy a TouchPad. :)
lakesuperiorguy

I’m getting the Pre 3 whenever it decides to rear its pretty ‘lil head. I wish HP took a cue from webOS. Meaning, HP should be able to multitask…releasing this phone either simultaneously with the TP (obviously that didn’t happen), or shortly thereafter (didn’t happen either). Sometimes being the biggest, isn’t always the best. There’s something to be said for doing one thing only and doing it better than anyone else.
Brother Al

IF Sprint really is going to carry this phone, Wickedly Awesome! …but the statement that they said “havn’t worked out a deal with ATT”
Sorry, but I can’t believe it. As for being on Sprint, it is a hard pill to swallow too… I eagerly would swallow it, but Sprint & it’s large volume of webOS users have shown/found nothing that supports this.
http://twitter.com/confusedgeek Felipe Garcia

no one has yet to convince me, that the delay in the pre3 is not a luke warm reaction of the US carriers.

we have seen it in the wild, its possible to at least order it in Europe.

maybe no carriers were announce in the feb 9th event because no carriers were willing to take another leap until they saw a fully backed model.

fingers crossed for sept 18th soft launch.
Brother Al

That sounds pretty realistic, plus the dismal playout of the Veer saga can’t be helping
Wes Z

What networks are pre3 coming out for? I’ve been sprint customer for 10yrs plus! I have been committed to palm phones for 6 plus years. However, if them a$$clowns don’t have the pre3 with my contracting ending in sept I’ll either switch to get pre3 or bite the lame azz bullet and go with iphone! Although, at&t with never get my business!
Anonymous

Sprint WILL come through by end of year. I just feel it in my bones!!

TimmyB

That feeling in your bones is called rigor mortis, Eric.
TimmyB

That feeling in your bones is called rigor mortis, Eric.

http://twitter.com/TreoRock Alberto Cajigas Jr.

Sept 20th is my birthday! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
The RTV

Does anyone know if i could buy an unlocked pre 3 from orange and get it to work in the us? I haven’t researched anything about the types of signal there phones use, but my contract at sprint ends on sep 1 (day after my bday) and i really wanna get a pre 3, but if i can’t i don’t think i can wait for the pre 3 on a contract-less pre minus. Also i really don’t wanna jump to at&t just for a phone.

[Rumor] Internal Document Reveals Possible Pre 3 Release Date; HP Readies Websites

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